Men's Race Rain Wear

When you get to the point of needing to don your rain jacket we expect to be a little uncomfortable. But there is nothing worse than uncomfortable stemming from sticky, sweaty skin sticking to plastic-like fabrics and the sensation that you are running in a steam room. That is why we have hunted high and low through the best brands in the world to find the perfect range of race rain wear and running waterproof jackets for you. We have based our selections on:

Comfort & Fit

Weight

Functionality

Durability

Mandatory Gear Requirements

And importantly, trendiness!

Right now, we love the Salomon Bonatti Jacket. The streamlined cut, soft fabric and dual grey tones makes it a waterproof jacket that is easy to look trendy in whilst you wander through the rain to the Bright Brewery for a post-mission beer with the boys.

For wilder missions when you need to feel tougher than the elements, we love The North Face Storm Stow Jacket and Patagonia Alpine Houdini Jacket. And for looking the scariest on the start line as the heaven's rain down upon us, we love the Ultimate Direction Ultra Jacket. We are sure that our line up of trail running waterproof jackets will bring out the macho in you as you hit the trails.

What is a race appropriate rain jacket?

Many trail running and ultra running races require athletes to have a seam-sealed, hooded and breathable rain jacket. What does this mean? This means that the jacket has to have a permanently attached hood, that the jacket allows some airflow when you are sweating in it, and that all the seams in the garment have been taped over (a clear strip of tape to help weld the seams closed).

How to choose a rain jacket?

All of our jackets are suitable for racing and meeting the mandatory gear requirements. When choosing your rain jacket, it is essential to keep in mind a number of factors:

The size of the rain jacket - it is imperative to be comfortable in your rain jacket even with many layers underneath. If it is cold and wet on rain day, you need at least a thermal and perhaps a heavier insulation layer underneath your rain jacket. Make sure you can freely move your arms and upper body in the rain jacket.

The weight & bulk of the rain jacket - how much mandatory gear do you need to be able to carry in your vest pack? Many people choose the smallest & lightest rain jacket possible.

The durability of the rain jacket - where will you be using your rain jacket? Some races and training runs are tougher on clothing and equipment than others. For example, in Tasmania we need our rain jackets to be tough and durable in scrubbier conditions.

Other uses - will you be exploring overseas or using your jacket to ride to work? If you plan on using your rain jacket a lot then consider how it looks and again, the durability of the rain jacket. If you plan to use it lots, then select a more durable rain jacket. If not, then perhaps the lighter the better?

Use our comparison chart to help you select your Rain Jacket:

We believe that the following jackets are the best on the market and will all suit racing conditions. We have roughly ranked them by weight - lightest to heaviest. At the bottom of the list are our rainwear pants suitable for racing conditions, also ranked by weight.